As with any decision, there will always be fors and against. When you announce you wish to purchase a property, you will surely be inundated with friendly well-meaning advice from relatives or friends who have opinions about a new vs an older home.
When the terminology ‘second-hand home’ is used, it does not necessarily mean an old home.
A new build refers explicitly to a home that has never been occupied and may allow you to select some of the build specs, such as flooring or accessories. These builds will usually exist within the development and will be recently finished.
There's no hiding the facts; people have been burned or let down when purchasing a new build. That's why using a reputable developer is paramount when purchasing a new property.
At Axis Construction, we have a team whose only focus is to ensure quality control; this means that every property we list for sale meets a rigorous standard.
At Axis, we feel that new homes are the ideal choice for first-time buyers. The main reasons we believe first-time buyers should select a new build are:
Since the start of the housing crisis in Ireland, the Government has issued many incentives to home buyers. Many of these incentives are only for first-time buyers, and many only allow for the purchase of new homes.
One of these initiatives is the first home scheme, whereby the Government offers loans between 15% and 40% of the property value through a network of participating banks and lenders.
Modern housing designs reflect modern lifestyles. At Axis, we are committed to providing our customers with the ultimate experience regarding our properties' layout, usability and functionality.
Not only do new-build homes have practical modern layouts, they also benefit from knowing the construction will meet current safety and building regulations. You do not need to worry about future-proofing the property either, with many developments installing leading technology as standard.
One of the most expensive parts of running a home is energy consumption. Whereas older properties require work to bring them up to scratch or have a low BER rating, new builds almost invariably come with all the available energy-saving solutions already in place.
All newly built homes in Ireland are A-rated.
By buying from a developer, you can often choose many fixtures and fittings, like carpets and lights, as they’re being installed in your home.
You don’t have to spend time living with a previous owner’s design choices or plan to renovate after you move in.
Again, for first-time buyers, simply enjoying being a homeowner and making small, decorative choices is often preferable to expensive and time-consuming DIY/Interior Design.
It's not unheard of for a house sale to fall through because one of the parties has either decided not to sell or because of a conveyancing issue.
With a new build, you remove this obstacle entirely. Once your mortgage is approved, the offer accepted, and the moving-in date confirmed; there is nothing left to do except sit back and dream of how good your life will be in your new home.
Because of the ruralization in many parts of Ireland, a lot of older properties are based sporadically across the landscape. Although some buyers may prefer to purchase a property out of the way, our research shows that many homeowners, especially first-time buyers prefer a sense of community.
At Axis, every development is built with this in mind. Our communal amenities and mix of housing sizes allow the perfect opportunity to mix with other homeowners. Every one of our developments has a real sense of community.
The cost associated with new builds is often called “New build tax” which refers to new builds being overpriced compared to second-hand alternatives.
While it’s true that new-build homes can be more expensive than older houses, this is usually down to everything being brand new, technological advances and certain customer specifications. It is not just the house itself but internal fixtures and fittings.
Even if new builds were more expensive their, energy efficiency, turn-key state and development amenities would quickly negate any price difference.
For many reasons, someone would consider purchasing an existing home over a new one. Often these reasons can come down to design, budget or simply geography.
Axis Construction is a construction and development company based in Ireland that undertakes turnkey projects throughout the country in the Residential, Commercial, Industrial and Hospitality markets.
Established by highly experienced directors having managed large construction projects across Ireland, the UK, Europe, and the Middle East, we have built a strong reputation for delivering quality projects on time and at competitive prices.
We employ disciplined project evaluation processes to determine the best method of construction and work closely with established design teams to ensure complete visibility through the development cycle delivering projects within budget and on time.
Axis Living Limited,
Willow House, Millennium Park, Osberstown, Naas, Co. Kildare, W91 C6KT
Email: info@axis.construction
